2023 USSYP Yearbook - Flipbook - Page 19
SENATE HISTORIAN
LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS
Betty Koed & Carla Hayden
D
(TOP TO BOTTOM)
Librarian of Congress
Dr. Hayden; Senate
Historian Dr. Koed
r. Carla Hayden, the 14th Librarian of Congress since 1802, welcomed the
delegates to the Library’s Madison Building. She defined librarians as “The
original search engines – and the anchors in so many communities.” Dr.
Hayden, the first African American and first woman to hold the office, fielded questions
on a range of subjects, including disinformation, book-banning and the digitization of
media in the modern age, noting that efforts to ban books usually only serve to
increase sales. Dr. Betty Koed, the first female historian of the United States
Senate, began her address by defining the term: “History can be everchanging. It is also your personal story. Everyone has a history, and
each of us interprets our own past.” Dr. Koed has worked to reveal a
deeper, more complete history of both the Senate and the country.
Early in her tenure, she noted the lack of female senators’ photos
showcased in her office. She added images of icons such as Senator
Margaret Chase Smith. Investigating early Congressional records
that had escaped destruction by the British in 1812, the heroics of
Tobias Simpson, a Black Senate messenger, came to light. Prior to
this research, it had been falsely assumed that there were no Black
Senate employees until after the Civil War. “It’s the history we share
as a community that pulls us together as a nation,” she said. California
delegate Fiona Lu offered appreciation: “Dr. Koed’s service teaches
us both about the momentous victories and the ugly truths of history to
understand who we are and the endless possibilities of who we can become.”
UNITED STATES SENATE YOUTH PROGRAM 2023 | 17
